The first phone with 5G was the OnePlus 6T, which is a great device, but it didn’t win me over with its price tag. So, I was very excited when I read that the company has already started working with another manufacturer on its “5G” smartphone.
That manufacturer is called OnePlus Nord, and it has its own N10 5G model that I’m reviewing today. The N10 5G is their second 5G phone, which isn’t surprising given all the hype around that network right now.
The OnePlus 6T is finally here and the company has put everything on the table. This is the first time they have unveiled a flagship phone in the United States and there is a clear chance that it will be the phone to beat for the next several months at least.
The specs for this device are as follows: Snapdragon 710, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, triple rear camera, 4000 mAh battery, and much more.
The first thing that I must say is that this is the first OnePlus device I have used. I admit I was a bit skeptical about the quality of OnePlus devices. So I took the device out of the box, and it looked impressive. I was impressed with the design, and the quality of the materials used. I must say that the build quality of this device is fantastic.
I was not happy with the color of the device, so I went to the OnePlus website and found another color option that I loved. After I installed the software, I was ready to use the device
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G adds more modest hardware to the Nord mid-range to reach a lower price point. Here are the OnePlus North N10 5G specifications, N10 5G battery, camera, etc.
A four-part movie was made about it (which is already out on Amazon Prime Video) that recounts its evolution, COVID notwithstanding, it has sparked an Instagram account with relevant posts multiple times a day, and the phone has become perhaps the most acclaimed mid-range phone of 2024.
Of the 25 official Instagram posts made since the announcement of the OnePlus North N10 5G, only five feature a mention of the N10.
It’s been discussed that OnePlus has been adopting the design and hardware of related phone makers like Oppo lately, and we recently learned that this model (and the N100) will only receive a software update and two years of lifetime security updates.
Design and construction
Starting from the best of OnePlus and assuming the N10 5G doesn’t lean on devices from other BBK companies (like Oppo, Realme or Vivo phones), this phone is an odd mix of design elements – old and new – from different phones from the company.
The most obvious difference from recent OnePlus phones is the appearance of a rear cover, an attribute we haven’t seen since the mid-2018 OnePlus 6. The consideration comes directly from the phone’s LCD technology, which can’t force an on-screen optical fingerprint sensor like the First North or the OnePlus 8 and 8T do.
The rectangular domino-style camera – as seen on the Samsung Galaxy S20 – makes the N10 the second OnePlus phone after the 8T with such a gameplan; we expect this feature to become more common on future OnePlus handsets.
If you’re going for a lower price than the first North, you’ll have to sacrifice some key features, including the glass back, the company’s signature finishing slider, and more fragile water and dust protection. All that said, you’ll discover microSD expansion options, though oddly enough, this invitation to expansion is clearly unique to OnePlus.
The N10 has a larger battery capacity than the first North, but it has extra mass for coordination. The plastic back is curved around the edges and sits well in the hand, but without the included case, the attractive Midnight Ice surface is instantly covered in fingerprints and doesn’t offer a firm grip in daily use.
Also read: 9 phones you can buy in 2024
Oneplus North N10 5G screen and sound
OnePlus doesn’t make phones with small screens, and the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is indeed a bit larger than the standard Nord. The 6.49-inch panel uses LCD technology rather than OLED (as on the first North), which is noticeable by lower contrast and weaker color reproduction.
It’s still compelling, with a high 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and movement and razor-sharp Full HD+ resolution in a high 20:9 aspect ratio.
It’s important to note that the screen wake-up frequency isn’t universal, so out of the box it’s set to 90Hz and locked at that level unless you physically change it to 60Hz, which means you have to check more regularly to reduce battery life.
OnePlus offers a decent amount of control over visual effects, with sliders for shadow temperature for general and night modes, monochrome display mode, and ambient display selection, despite the lack of a fixed setting.
The only thing missing from the screen layout is a one-handed mode – a long-standing omission on OnePlus phones that never felt right to me, thinking about the usually better experience. The sound quality of both devices is excellent, and the sound system speakers stand out in this price range; they sound surprisingly balanced and clear, unlike other sound system speakers on qualified phones.
Software and highlights
OnePlus is known for its powerful phones, but its stripped-down version of Android Oxygen OS is perhaps the company’s best asset.
Adapted from the standard operating system to command respect without going overboard, the Oxygen OS offers a rich user experience that is as enjoyable for new users as it is for Android users who have been on the device for a long time.
Although it comes after the OnePlus 8T, which boasts the best Oxygen OS 11 (on Android 11), the OnePlus Nord N10 5G has a 10.5 version on Android 10.
This probably doesn’t sound like much, but given the focus on improving the individual user experience when transitioning from Oxygen OS 10 to 11, it’s unfortunate that a user didn’t try to make sure their most recent customer experience was available on their most recent device.
Regardless, the oneplus nord N10 5G’s software is still pleasant to use and includes useful improvements over standard Android, such as more notable built-in settings. There’s also a Game Room and Fanatic mode for energetic mobile gamers, with resource optimization and notification hiding.
It’s worth noting that despite the promise of an upcoming update to Oxygen OS 11 (and Android 11), unlike the rest of the OnePlus lineup, the N10 5G and North N100 will only receive one major software update in their lifetime (while other OnePlus phones will get two anyway).
Power OnePlus North N10 5G
While the Nord N100 lowers the performance bar even further, the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is actually one of the company’s most modest devices to date, and one of the leading phones powered by one of Qualcomm’s most moderate 5G SoCs, the Snapdragon 690, which comes with 6GB of RAM and a truly liberal 128GB of internal storage.
In the artificial test, the Snapdragon 690 offers enough processing power for normal use, but shows its weaknesses in graphics performance and lags behind devices like the cheaper Poco X3.
The rear fingerprint sensor further spoils the generally fast user experience, taking as long as some built-in display options to recognize your fingerprint, and in some cases refusing to work until the phone is woken up by pressing the power button.
Battery and charging
Behind the imposing facade of the Oneplus nord N10 5G is an impressive 4300 mAh battery, which fortunately ensures a long life.
Although it only performs as well as the more modest First Nord battery, in practice it delivered just over six hours of screen time (with a 5G SIM card), which for most users equates to about a day and a bit of total use without any issues.
The updated Warp Charge 30T standard, which OnePlus introduced with the OnePlus 7T series, offers basic fast charging and in testing brought the N10 5G’s battery to 64% charge in just 30 minutes and 100% charge in 60 minutes.
Also read : OnePlus 9 Pro Review: Prizes, shots and misses
OnePlus North N10 5G Camera
One of the intriguing things about the Oneplus North N10 5G is first of all its 64MP main camera – the Omnivision sensor is something that isn’t widely known in the smartphone industry, so I was intrigued to see how it performs.
Shots naturally become 16MP photos by binning (the merging of four pixels into one to eliminate motion, blur, etc.), but you can also shoot at full resolution
if you wish. If it’s a bit bright, the phone’s night mode lets you take low-light photos with the main sensor and ultra-wide-angle sensor, while portrait mode is best left on for selfies, as recognizing each edge of the phone’s 16MP camera can sometimes lead to confusion.
However, the user-friendly multi-level beauty settings are simple and powerful when you want them. Finally, you can shoot video up to 4K, with a choice of 16:9 or 21:9 cinema profiles.
Price
With only one N10 SKU to look at (6GB RAM, 128GB capacity, 5G, Midnight Ice), the price in India is expected to go up to Rs 28,790 as this Oneplus North N10 5G is yet to launch in other countries as €299 in Europe (down from €349) and $299.99 in the US.
Pronunciation
The OnePlus North N10 5G is perhaps the strangest representative of OnePlus, not because there’s no room for a mediocre OnePlus, but because it includes several options and qualities that seem unique to the brand.
The design and hardware are certainly more conventional than the company’s other current phones, and given that any differences between this and the original North aren’t terrible [like the headphone jack], they don’t replicate what the OnePlus brand guarantees.
Fortunately, the company’s signature clean and smart user experience remains impeccable and seems to be the N10’s best asset, even if it is plagued by bugs that need to be fixed to be considered an offering.It’s finally here. The much awaited 5G from OnePlus.
Here’s our review of the 6GB/128GB variant that’s currently available in India..
Read more about oneplus nord n10 5g t-mobile and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OnePlus Nord N10 5G a good phone?
The OnePlus 5T is almost here, and that means it’s time to start speculating about what it will look like. Today, we’ve got a look at the upcoming phone’s hardware.
Is it the best looking version of the OnePlus 5? Does the 5T make the best use of the notch trend? Will it have a headphone jack? Let us know! You’re reading this because you want to know whether the OnePlus 5G is worth buying. You want to know if the N10 is a decent idea or not.
You want it to be clear that the phone can be a good buy or not. (And yes, of course, you want to know as quickly as possible).
Which is better OnePlus Nord or N10?
To make up for the lack of proper flagship devices in the last few years, Asian manufacturers have started introducing flagships in form of budget friendly devices. OnePlus is one of them.
The company’s first device was dubbed OnePlus One and became a hit because of its excellent specifications and big battery. The OnePlus N10 is the third smartphone from the Chinese company OnePlus. The device is a high-spec Android phone with the latest OnePlus software and hardware.
The screen has a 5.5 inch resolution and supports a resolution of 1440 x 2560 which is higher than the resolution of the N9 and N10.
Is Nord N10 good?
The OnePlus 5 is one of the best smartphones you can get right now, and thankfully it’s also the best supported model. The company is always improving its software and offering new features to their users with each major update.
If you’re not using the latest version of Oxygen OS, you’re not getting the full benefits of the OnePlus 5, and that’s a bummer because it’s one of the best Android phones on the market right now.
Based on the OnePlus N10 (first generation), and on the current OnePlus X and OnePlus 2, here’s my review of the OnePlus Nord N10. (To be more specific, it’s the review from the site icydk.com, and not from the OnePlus website, which now has more of a focus on the new OnePlus 3.)
The first thing to note is that this is not a pure review. In many features, the N10 and X are very similar, and there are only very slight differences between them. Some people prefer the N10’s design, others prefer the X’s, some like the N10’s camera, while others like the X’s. But, for the purpose of this review, I